Take a few deep breaths to slow you down. Physiologically, this helps to lower your heart-rate and reduce tension.
Photograph: Alamy

Everyone has moments of self-doubt. For some, these thoughts are fleeting and quickly pass. But, as Shakespeare puts it, others find that their “doubts are traitors” which hold them back from fulfilling their potential. Elite athletes have long known the importance of a pre-performance routine. It allows them to focus on what’s important, helping them concentrate on the task at hand and execute their skills to the best of their abilities.

Arrive at school with plenty of time

Exams are stressful enough without the added worry of running late. Lateness tends to magnify everything; if people are a bit stressed or nervous, when running late they become more so. Follow the old maxim “if you are not early, you’re late” and you’ll be on the right path to starting your exams calmly and confidently.

On the morning of your exam, think about who makes you feel calm and confident and actively seek them out. Avoid spending the time before your exam surrounded by people (friends or otherwise) who are particularly negative or who stress you out.

Pause for a minute and take some deep breaths

When people are under pressure, they often underestimate how much time they have. This leads to them rushing and making sloppy mistakes that cost marks.

Focusing on taking a few deep breaths can act as a prompt to slow you down. Physiologically, this helps to lower your heart-rate and reduce tension. By slowing down or pausing for a moment, you allow yourself time to fully assess the situation, come up with a plan and decide the best course of action.

The science of revision: nine ways pupils can revise for exams more effectively

Read more

Remind yourself of your exam strategy

Legendary American football coach Bill Walsh wrote a great book, The Score Takes Care of Itself, in which he details his leadership philosophy. His approach was to focus on executing a game strategy and not worry about the goal tally. If you do this, he says, the result will often take care of itself.

The same is true during exams. Focus less on what grade you might get, and more on executing your exam strategy. This might mean the amount of time you should spend per question, reading each question first, writing five minutes of rough notes before answering the long question or any other technique. If in doubt what your exam tactic should be, ask your teacher; they will almost certainly have some helpful advice for you.

Final thought

When you have spent so much time working and revising for exams, it is a mistake to leave the last hour or two to chance. Nothing can ever guarantee success, but by executing the tips above, you give yourself the best chance of demonstrating your knowledge when it really matters.